High CPU use?

Win10pro Intel i7 RAM 12GB

Encoding movies, I get a CPU use of 95%, even though I set to
"lowest priority" on the application settings.

Is there some other way to reduce this load albeit for a longer
processing time?

Peter Jason wrote:

Win10pro Intel i7 RAM 12GB

Encoding movies, I get a CPU use of 95%, even though I
set to "lowest priority" on the application settings.

Is there some other way to reduce this load albeit for a
longer processing time?

Is it relative? I suspect lowest priority means it will back
off if other applications need the CPU. That is the
difference between "priority" and "usage". If it were "lowest
usage" then it would use a small amount of CPU even if it is
the only application running.

You need to figure out if that is the case. Unless you just
want your CPU to go unused. But that is a different question?

On Wed, 1 Mar 2017 02:55:22 -0000 (UTC), John Doe
wrote:

Peter Jason wrote:

Win10pro Intel i7 RAM 12GB

Encoding movies, I get a CPU use of 95%, even though I
set to "lowest priority" on the application settings.

Is there some other way to reduce this load albeit for a
longer processing time?

Is it relative? I suspect lowest priority means it will back
off if other applications need the CPU. That is the
difference between "priority" and "usage". If it were "lowest
usage" then it would use a small amount of CPU even if it is
the only application running.

You need to figure out if that is the case. Unless you just
want your CPU to go unused. But that is a different question?

OK. It's just that the CPU fan speeds right up.

Peter Jason wrote:

John Doe wrote:
Peter Jason wrote:

Win10pro Intel i7 RAM 12GB

Encoding movies, I get a CPU use of 95%, even though I
set to "lowest priority" on the application settings.

Is there some other way to reduce this load albeit for a
longer processing time?

Is it relative? I suspect lowest priority means it will
back off if other applications need the CPU. That is the
difference between "priority" and "usage". If it were
"lowest usage" then it would use a small amount of CPU even
if it is the only application running.

You need to figure out if that is the case. Unless you just
want your CPU to go unused. But that is a different
question?

OK. It's just that the CPU fan speeds right up.

The Task Manager Processes tab includes CPU usage for
applications. If you start another CPU hungry application,
you might witness the encoder program's CPU usage fall. But,
again, the total usage will remain very high as long as a CPU
hungry application is running, regardless of its priority.

Peter Jason wrote:
Win10pro Intel i7 RAM 12GB

Encoding movies, I get a CPU use of 95%, even though I set to
"lowest priority" on the application settings.

Is there some other way to reduce this load albeit for a longer
processing time?


See if the movie encoder has a command line parameter
that controls thread count ? I can do that on FFMPEG, for
those encoders that are actually multi-threaded. Encoders
like Cinepak are single-threaded (algorithm issue). To
do Cinepak, I chop the movie into N pieces, and start
a copy of the encoder for each piece, then stitch them together
at the end.

If threading option isn't available, you can use Task Manager
"affinity" to reduce the number of cores allowed to run the process.
With the movie encoder running, click the process in Task
Manager, then look for the Set Affinity item. There should be
a tick box per virtual core.

There should not be a problem with using "Priority" either. The
idea is, if you reduce the priority, regular tasks will get
more slices than the movie encoder. The larger the spread on
task priorities, the larger the ratio on the slices should be.
The percentage may remain at 100%, but any time one of your
other programs needs a slice ("Notepad"), you would assume
it would be getting more slices than the encoder. And then
Notepad would not be locked out.

If you did it that way, the system will feel more responsive - as
long as a low priority task is not allowed to "hog the disk drives".
Slow resources can have resource contention, and even a low
priority task with a "taste for disk drive", can sink the
computer in terms of responsiveness. Reducing the priority,
doesn't have a direct linear effect on disk loading.

But the best way to cosmetically assure yourself the movie
encoder isn't "getting it all", is affinity. There is at
least one launcher program, that will set affinity to just
one core, before starting a program. And that helps limit
the CPU that can be used.

As far as Task Priority goes, it's not without side effects.
You cannot just grab any old process and make wild changes
in priority. On occasion this will cause a deadlock, with
two processes waiting for something, and no way to get them
to play nice again. But for small adjustments of priority,
you should be OK.

The old system we used to develop at work, it had something
like 256 levels of priority. However, by observation, I
noticed the software people only used "low, nominal, high",
in other words, only three particular numeric values in their
daily work. And there did not appear to be a reason to go nuts
with priority. And notice that the priorities in Windows are
much the same. Not a lot of priority values are really needed.
And if you set some system process to an extreme value, it can
have consequences. I never did get a CS graduate to explain to
me, the reasoning behind just three active values. But after
asking the question a few times, I was getting the impression
they'd learned something in school about this.

Paul

On Tue, 28 Feb 2017 22:15:06 -0500, Paul
wrote:

Peter Jason wrote:
Win10pro Intel i7 RAM 12GB

Encoding movies, I get a CPU use of 95%, even though I set to
"lowest priority" on the application settings.

Is there some other way to reduce this load albeit for a longer
processing time?


See if the movie encoder has a command line parameter
that controls thread count ? I can do that on FFMPEG, for
those encoders that are actually multi-threaded. Encoders
like Cinepak are single-threaded (algorithm issue). To
do Cinepak, I chop the movie into N pieces, and start
a copy of the encoder for each piece, then stitch them together
at the end.

If threading option isn't available, you can use Task Manager
"affinity" to reduce the number of cores allowed to run the process.
With the movie encoder running, click the process in Task
Manager, then look for the Set Affinity item. There should be
a tick box per virtual core.

There should not be a problem with using "Priority" either. The
idea is, if you reduce the priority, regular tasks will get
more slices than the movie encoder. The larger the spread on
task priorities, the larger the ratio on the slices should be.
The percentage may remain at 100%, but any time one of your
other programs needs a slice ("Notepad"), you would assume
it would be getting more slices than the encoder. And then
Notepad would not be locked out.

If you did it that way, the system will feel more responsive - as
long as a low priority task is not allowed to "hog the disk drives".
Slow resources can have resource contention, and even a low
priority task with a "taste for disk drive", can sink the
computer in terms of responsiveness. Reducing the priority,
doesn't have a direct linear effect on disk loading.

But the best way to cosmetically assure yourself the movie
encoder isn't "getting it all", is affinity. There is at
least one launcher program, that will set affinity to just
one core, before starting a program. And that helps limit
the CPU that can be used.

As far as Task Priority goes, it's not without side effects.
You cannot just grab any old process and make wild changes
in priority. On occasion this will cause a deadlock, with
two processes waiting for something, and no way to get them
to play nice again. But for small adjustments of priority,
you should be OK.

The old system we used to develop at work, it had something
like 256 levels of priority. However, by observation, I
noticed the software people only used "low, nominal, high",
in other words, only three particular numeric values in their
daily work. And there did not appear to be a reason to go nuts
with priority. And notice that the priorities in Windows are
much the same. Not a lot of priority values are really needed.
And if you set some system process to an extreme value, it can
have consequences. I never did get a CS graduate to explain to
me, the reasoning behind just three active values. But after
asking the question a few times, I was getting the impression
they'd learned something in school about this.

Paul

Thanks, I just set the CPU fan on 'high' for the encoding then switch
it back again afterwards.

On 02/28/2017 09:00 PM, Peter Jason wrote:

[snip]

You need to figure out if that is the case. Unless you just
want your CPU to go unused. But that is a different question?

OK. It's just that the CPU fan speeds right up.


I remember when I got a really fast CPU (AMD 8-core). The little fan
that came with it sounded like a leaf blower. I still have the PC, but
use a better fan / heatsink that sounds just like a normal PC.

A laptop is likely to shut off if the CPU is used continuously for more
than a few minutes. I have one that's really bad at that. It requires an
external fan to install on OS.

--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"The wind is like the air, only pushier."

On Wed, 1 Mar 2017 11:15:40 -0600, Mark Lloyd wrote:

On 02/28/2017 09:00 PM, Peter Jason wrote:

[snip]

You need to figure out if that is the case. Unless you just
want your CPU to go unused. But that is a different question?

OK. It's just that the CPU fan speeds right up.


I remember when I got a really fast CPU (AMD 8-core). The little fan
that came with it sounded like a leaf blower. I still have the PC, but
use a better fan / heatsink that sounds just like a normal PC.

A laptop is likely to shut off if the CPU is used continuously for more
than a few minutes. I have one that's really bad at that. It requires an
external fan to install on OS.

That's not normal at all. I'm guessing one or more of the following:
- dust bunnies, clogged vents
- failed fan, no forced air flow
- failed thermal compound between the CPU and it's heat spreader
- other (I had to include this category )

As with any PC, you should be able to run a laptop flat out for hours
and hours at a time. It'll generate some heat, but shouldn't shut down.

One exception that I know of. I bought a gaming laptop for a younger
family friend this past Christmas and it came with a disclaimer that
said gaming, even when operating on AC, would run the battery down until
the laptop shuts off for lack of power. You'd think they'd give you an
AC supply that could allow you to work/game indefinitely, but apparently
not.

Char Jackson wrote:
On Wed, 1 Mar 2017 11:15:40 -0600, Mark Lloyd wrote:

On 02/28/2017 09:00 PM, Peter Jason wrote:

[snip]

You need to figure out if that is the case. Unless you just
want your CPU to go unused. But that is a different question?
OK. It's just that the CPU fan speeds right up.

I remember when I got a really fast CPU (AMD 8-core). The little fan
that came with it sounded like a leaf blower. I still have the PC, but
use a better fan / heatsink that sounds just like a normal PC.

A laptop is likely to shut off if the CPU is used continuously for more
than a few minutes. I have one that's really bad at that. It requires an
external fan to install on OS.

That's not normal at all. I'm guessing one or more of the following:
- dust bunnies, clogged vents
- failed fan, no forced air flow
- failed thermal compound between the CPU and it's heat spreader
- other (I had to include this category )

As with any PC, you should be able to run a laptop flat out for hours
and hours at a time. It'll generate some heat, but shouldn't shut down.

One exception that I know of. I bought a gaming laptop for a younger
family friend this past Christmas and it came with a disclaimer that
said gaming, even when operating on AC, would run the battery down until
the laptop shuts off for lack of power. You'd think they'd give you an
AC supply that could allow you to work/game indefinitely, but apparently
not.


A leak in the heatpipe will cause cooling failure too.

But that one is way down at the bottom of your list,
and not likely to happen. And I don't know of a test
method I would trust, that would suffice as a "go/no-go"
test for a leaky heatpipe.

The amount of fluid in the heatpipe is only a couple droplets,
so you cannot shake them and "listen for sloshing". There
isn't sufficient material in there for that.

The Surface Pro uses a "vapor chamber", which is an
extension of the heatpipe idea, only with larger flat
areas made out of copper. That's to allow conduction
cooling into the device outer skin (i.e. burn your lap :-) )

Paul

On Wed, 1 Mar 2017 11:15:40 -0600, Mark Lloyd
wrote:

A laptop is likely to shut off if the CPU is used continuously for more
than a few minutes. I have one that's really bad at that. It requires an
external fan to install on OS.

That would make the laptop unusable. The Samsung on my desk has been
plugged in, charging the batteries and being used whenever needed for
a few weeks.

Steve

--
Neural Network Software for Windows http://www.npsnn.com

On 03/01/2017 01:08 PM, Char Jackson wrote:

[snip]

That's not normal at all. I'm guessing one or more of the following:
- dust bunnies, clogged vents
- failed fan, no forced air flow
- failed thermal compound between the CPU and it's heat spreader
- other (I had to include this category )

The laptop in question is too old to be worth taking to a shop. If it
was a desktop, I'd try to fix it myself. However, laptops can be
difficult or impossible to work with. I may still try since that laptop
isn't worth much the way it is.

BTW, It's a Dell, with a never-used WiMax interface.

[snip]

--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"Entertainment is a thing of the past, today we've got television" --
Archie Bunker

On 03/01/2017 01:08 PM, Char Jackson wrote:

[snip]

As with any PC, you should be able to run a laptop flat out for hours
and hours at a time. It'll generate some heat, but shouldn't shut down.

IIRC, where I first heard that was on the SETI@home forum. This is a
program that normally runs continuously.

BTW, It will run continuously on my netbook (2-core 32-bit). That system
is too slow to get very hot.

[snip]

--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"Entertainment is a thing of the past, today we've got television" --
Archie Bunker

On 03/02/2017 03:23 AM, Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
On Wed, 1 Mar 2017 11:15:40 -0600, Mark Lloyd
wrote:

A laptop is likely to shut off if the CPU is used continuously for more
than a few minutes. I have one that's really bad at that. It requires an
external fan to install on OS.

That would make the laptop unusable. The Samsung on my desk has been
plugged in, charging the batteries and being used whenever needed for
a few weeks.

Probably used lightly, with only a few short bursts of 100% CPU use.
That is, "normal use". Most of the time, the CPU will be idle (often
running at reduced speed).

Steve



--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"Entertainment is a thing of the past, today we've got television" --
Archie Bunker